Label-affixing machine.



E. P. SHELDON, G. BRAND & F. MAROILB.

LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1911.

INVENTORS, fipwnlrbns/wbwu.

W ATTORNEYS Patented J an. 21

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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E. P. SHELDON, G. BRAND & F. MAEGILE. LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTORS WITNESSES.

I EDWARD P. ASH/21.00. GLZOPGE BlF/I/VD. BY FEL/IMAIPC/LEH ATTORNEYS UNITED T TES PATENT OFFICE. Y

EDWARD P. SHELDON, GEORGE BRAND, AND FELIX MARCILE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW

' YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

Original application filed March 9, 1909, Serial No. 482,262. --,Divided and this application filed April 18,

To all who-m. it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD P. SHELDON, (iuonon BRAND, and FELIX lllAItClLE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in-Label-Atlixing Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

Our invention relates to the means for supplying labels in properly gummed or moistened condition to position in a label affixing machine for afiixing to the objects to be labeled.

The invention is particularly useful for cigar banding machines of the general character described in application for patentfiled June 6th, 1908, Serial No. 437,041, by Edward P. Sheldon, which was issued as Patent No. 981,017, dated Jan. 10, 1911.

The object of our invention is, among other things, to prevent the labels from sticking to the moistening device, as well as to afford a simple and effective apparatus for properly gumming or moistening the labels and delivering them, one at a time, in gumnied or moistened condition, directly to a support adapted to hold or support the label in readiness for receiving the article to which it is to be aiiixed.

The invention consists in the special details of construction and combinations of devices more particularly hereinafter described and then specified in the claims.

In describing the invention, it'will be assumed that the articles to be -labeled are cigars fed to labeling position on a collapsible support or platform, as described in the prior application and patent above referred to. Inasmuch as the invention has to do particularly with the port-ion of the apparatus for gumming orv moistening the labels and the associated devices for supplying the labels to the same, and is applicable to other machines for aiiixing labels, the drawings and specification will be confined, for the sake of brevity, to such portion of the machine, and the appliances for feeding the cigars or other objects and for applying or wrapping the band or label, have been omitted.

Figure l is a plan of an apparatus embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and t show the Serial No. 621,772.

support, as described in the prior application hereinbefore referred to. H

The mechanism shown may be driven froma wheel 81 or other driving wheel connected with or forming a portion of any revolving member of the machine, as described in such prior application, said wheel 81 being indicated in dotted lines and being shown as gearing to a wheel 2.

The labels detached or removed one at a time from the pile of labels 3 are first received by a pair of feed rolls 4 and fed thereby between guide plates 5 from which they are passed on by a pair of feed rolls, at the farther end of said plates 5 to a second pair of guide plates 6. They are drawn from the space between the latter pair of guide plates by means of a pair of feed rolls 7 and forced bythe latter through guide plates 8 into positionupon the collapsible support 55. In this position they receive the cigar or other object to be labeled and are a'fiixed thereto by the operation of a suitable plunger and folding and pressing devices which act when the object with the label beneath it is forced down past plate 55, said devices operating in the manner described in the aforesaid application or in any other suitable way. The forward end of the label which, in the present instance is supposed to have inclined sides is received between side guide plates 61 upon a support plate 60 and its forward motion is stopped by the abutment 6:2 which is engaged by the forward end of the label. Proper motion is given to the various feed rolls through a train of gears geared up to wheel 2, as clearly shown, and which need not be described in detail as its construction and operation will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

The label holding box holding the pile of labels 3 is properly mounted on a plate or frame 9 secured to the main frame of the machine. When the labels are detached one at a time from the pile, as herein descr1bed, from beneath, said pile is supported at one end by a plate 10 whose freeend 1s pref erably somewhat inclined downwardly to facilitate the movement of the label when it is detached or removed and slips down 10 past the free edge of the plate 10. At its opposite end the pile is supported by a plate 11 normally projecting a slight dlstance beneath the edge .of the pige so as to allow the label to bend freely an clear said support when it is drawn downward by the action of the pick-up device WhJCh detaches or removes-the labels one at a time from the pile and which acts upon them as Wlll be presently described. The plate 11 also acts as a guard plate to prevent detachment of labels when the feed of cigars or other obj ects is interrupted from any cause, and for this purpose is adapted to be reciprocated endwise beneath the pile of labels and to interpose itself between the pile and the exhaust tube 12 of the suction pick-up which is mounted and operated as will be presently described. 13 is a lever connected to the shield 11 and normally maintained in position shown by the action of the cigars or other objects as they move in a train or series to label afiixing position. A suitable weight 14 carried upon an arm projecting fromthe rock shaft 15 which supports lever 13 acts to move the -plate or shield 11 inward to shield the labels against'the action of the suction device 12 'When. freed from the restraining influence of the cigars or other objects exerted on the lever 13 through a connecting rod 16, as shown in Fig. 5, tied to an arm extending from a rock shaft 17, carrying fingers or arms 18 which lie in the path of the cigars or other objects 19 as theyare fed by the 5 band feed 20 toward position upon the platform 55. As shown in said Fig. 5, when there is no interruption in the train of cigars or other objects, the fingers 18 will be held down in position indicated in dotted lines 5 and the shield 11 will be held against the influence of the weight 14 in the position shown in Fig. 2. In case there should be a cessation in the regular feedof the cigars 19, the'arms or fingers 18 will be permitted to rise to the position shown in full'lines, and the weight 14 will thereby be permitted to move the shield 11 endwise beneath the pile of bands 3-and prevent further detachment of the labels by the action of the pickup device.

The pick-up device for removing or detaching the labels one at a time from the pile operates by exhaust of air and suction applied through the medium of a tube 12,

5 the mouth of which may be located in the I ward end of the latter will periphery of a suitable wheel 21 mounted to rotate in suitable hearings on a reciprocatory support 22 carried by rock shaft 23. The shaft of wheel 21 is a hollow shaft affording a passage which communicates with the exhaust tube -12 on the one hand and -on the other communicates with a flexible tube 24 applied to the hollow end of the shaft, as shown inthe plan view, and connected with a suitable exhaust pump. The su port 22 is reciprocated toward and away om the initial pair of feed rolls 4 by any proper device but preferably by means of pitman 25 connecting with a crank pin on a wheel of the label feed gear or by similar mechanical movement arranged to pass the dead center when the arin 22 and pick-up device are in position shown in full lines with the mouth of' the suction tube against the surface of the outermost label of the pile. 'By these means the suction device is caused to dwell in position for detaching the label so as to insure the action thereof by suction or exhaust on said label. Movement of the pitman is communicated to the support 22 through the arm 26 fastened to rock shaft 23, and to further insure a dwell of the exhaust tube in position shown in full lines, a lost motion is provided by elongating the opening in the pitman where a pin projecting from the arm 26 engages in said pitman.

A spring 27 connects the arm 26 and the pitman, as shown, while a stop 28 limits the rearward movement of the support 22 for the pick-up device. As the crank moves in the direction of the arrow toward position shown, to cause the arm 22 to recede, the latter first brings up against the stop but owing to lost motion the crank can continue its movement and slide the pitman on the pin without producing any movement of the arm 22. After passing thecenter, the pitman follows up the crank under the action of the spring 27 until it again engages the pin at the reverse end of the slot, after which the arm 22 with the pickup device begins its forward motion toward the position shown in dotted lines.

The label pick-up is caused to rotate from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines as it moves forward toward the feed rolls 4 by any suitable means, as for instance, by rack 29engaged by a toothed wheel 30 on the shaft of wheel 21 or by other suitable means. Inasmuch as the suction device or tube 12 takes hold of the label at a point somewhat removed from the end it is obvious that the free, forproject tangentially from the wheel (21 and thereby be caused to enter between feed rolls 4 when the support 22 is moved over to the position shown in dotted lines and the wheel 21 is partially rotated with thelabel clinging by suction to its periphery. The rear end of the label will wrap itself partially around the wheel and being detained or held between the pile of labels and the lip or plate 10 it Wlll be finally drawn from beneath the pile and around the smooth periphery of the wheel .41 by the positive action of the feed rolls -l.-. These means for detaching the labels from their pile and presenting them, one at a time, to the feed rolls by which they are fed tothe moistening device and for preventing detachment of labels from the pile when the feed of cigars or other objects is interrupted, are not herein claimed, as they form the subject of claims in our appllcation for patent tiled March 9th, 190 9, No. 482,262, of which our present application constitutes a division.

The. moistening of the labels may be either a inoistening with a gum or moistenlng by i a liquid such as water applled to a prev1- wheel carries also a detaching finger 33 set preferably in the periphery of the wheel and acting to forcibly detach the label 3d from the moistener 32, so as to prevent sticking. The spring finger 33 is compressed between the two wheels 7 with the label 34 as the latter passes between said feed wheels, but

as the free end of the tongue or finger asses the point of compression it springs outthe label, inobvious manner.

Fig. 4 shows the moistener as engaging the label and the spring finger as about to enter between the feed rolls.

Fig. 3 shows the position assumed by the finger after it has detached the label and which position it retains until the wheel has rotated in the direction of the arrow around to position shown in Fig. l. The'moistener 32 whether charged with water or with a gum is periodically wetted by a wetting de-.

vlce carried in a reciprocatory support 35 i pivoted at 36 on the frame of the machine and operated by a cam 37 on the shaft of the feed drive. Said cam engages, as shown in plan view, a roller 38 carried by a pivoted arm 39 attached to the support 35, said arm being sustained by a fork on the cam shaft, as better seen in the side view, Fig. 2. When a liquid or other solvent for a previously gummed label is used, the wetting device embodies a wick 40 and the support 35 is simply awick tube Whose end is cut away to allow the wick to engage the moistener 32.

The end of the wick is kept moist by the liquid drawn up through capillary action from the tank 31 and the reciprocating inovenient of the tube 35 is related to the rotary i'novenient of the inolstener 32 or coordinated so that when the moistener is opposite the end of the wick tube 35 it will be permitted by the cam 37 to fall against and wet the 'inoisteiner 32. The forward movement of the tube 35 is for this purpose secured by'the action of a suitable spring 41 hearing on the wick. tube and fastened to the framework, the rearward movement to carry the wick away from engagement with the periphery of the feed wheel 7 being produced by the cam acting in opposition to said spring. "In order to permit the label box or holder to accommodate labels of different lengths a'iid having inclined edges inclined at different angles, the end plate 42 is provided with a slotted base 413 through which rises a pin carrying clamping nut 4-1.

The two side plates 45 are similarly mounted and may obviously be adjusted to any required position'with reference to the 1ongitudinal axis of the label, so as to accommodate labels of different widths having edges differently inclined to said longitudinal axis. This construction of the label box also forms the subject of claims in the prior application above "referred to, of which the present application is a division, and is therefore not claimed herein.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a label-affixing machine, the combination ofa support adapted to receive 'or support the labels in label-affixing position, means for feeding the labels successively thereto, a label moistener mounted in a rotating support carried on stationary bear- .vardly and detaches the moistened end of ings and periodically operated to moisten the gummed ends of the successive labels, a wetting device for wetting the moistener and means for periodically bringing the same into engagement with the moistener as and for the purpose described.

2. In a label-aflixing machine, the combination of a label support adapted to support the label in label-afiixing position, a label feed wheel for feeding the label on to said support and a label moistener of absorbent material setin a recess in the periphery of said wheel and adapted to engage an end of the label as it moves under the action of the wheel.

3. In a label-affixing machine, the combination of a label support in label-aflixing position, a label feed wheel'adapted to feed the label on to said support and having a label moistener set in its periphery, a wetting device and cooperating mechanism for bringing the same into position to be engaged by the label moistener as and for the purpose described.

4. In a label-affixing machine, the combination of a label support in label-affixing position, a label feed wheel having a label moistener set in its eriphery, a wetting de-i to engage the label and prevent it omsticking to the moistening device.

6. In a label-aflixing machine, the combination of means for supporting the label in label-afiixing position, means for feeding the labels one at a time thereto, a label moistening wheel adapted to engage the. label and moisten the same at one point only in the travel of the wheels periphery and justbefore the label is delivered to label-aflixing position and a spring finger set in the periphery of said wheel at a point immediately succeeding the moistening portion thereof.

7 In a label-ailixing machine, the combination of a support forthe label in labelafiixing position, means for feeding the labels one at a time thereto, a wheel having a label moistener set in its periphery and adapted to engage the label as it passes to label-aflixingposition, a movable wick holder and mechanism for moving the same to and from the periphery of the wheel and timed to engage said wheel when the moistening portion thereof is in position opposite the wick holder. I

8. In a label-afiixing machine, the combination of means for supporting the label in label-affixing position, a label feed wheel for feeding the labels one at a time on to said support and having a label moistener set in its periphery, a liquid tank containing a of April, A. D. 1911.

as and for the purpose described.

9 In a label-aflixing machine, the combination of a su port adapted to hold the label in label-a mg osltion, a label feed wheel feeding the lab e s thereto and having a label moistener set in its periphery, an external wetting device and means for periodicallymoving said wetting device against the periphery of the feed wheel to engage the same at its moistening portion.

10. In a label alfixing machine, the combination of a support for the label in labelafixing position, a label feed wheel for feedingthe labels one at a time thereto and providedwith means for moisteningv the labels in succession and a detaching finger mounted on the periphery of said wheel in p sition immediately succeeding the label moistening portion thereof.

Signed at New York .1 the county of New York and State of New York this 12th day of April A. D. 1911.

' EDWARD P. SHELDON. -Witnesses:

' E. MEURLING,

'FRED. S. BORDEN.

Signed at New York in the county of New York andState of New York this 13th day of April, A. D. 1911.

i GEORGE BRAND.

Witnesses:

HENRY C. TOWNSEND, IRENE LEFKOWITZ.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 13th day FELIX MARCILE. Witnesses:

HENRY O. TOWNSEND,

C. F. TISCHNER', Jr. 

